Our Commitment To Our Values

At ROOTS Culture Collective, we're building something bigger than a store, we're building a movement. And movements require honesty, not perfection.

Our Values

We believe in:

  • Supporting Small and BIPOC-owned businesses around the globe

  • Clean, Natural, and Nourishing ingredients that work with your body, not against it

  • Ethical production with fair labour practices and safe working conditions

  • Transparency about where our products come from, what’s in them, and how they're made

  • Continuous improvement, we're on a journey, not at the destination

The Reality We Navigate

Finding sustainable, ethical, and effective products made by and for BIPOC communities is hard. Options are limited. Prices are often out of reach. And "perfect" sustainability can be a privilege not everyone can afford.

So we make informed choices. We prioritise BIPOC-owned businesses globally, even when that means international shipping, because access and representation matter more. We choose natural ingredients and ethical production, even when cheaper alternatives exist. Quality matters. Our health and the planet matter.

And we're honest about the trade-offs we make along the way.

What We're Doing

Supporting POC Economies: Every brand we stock is Black, Indigenous, or POC-owned. We're building economic power in our communities, locally and globally.

Natural & Safe Ingredients: We prioritise products free from things like sulfates, parabens, and harsh unnecessary chemicals. We choose formulas that nourish rather than damage.

Ethical Production: We verify production with our suppliers before stocking.

Transparent About Packaging: We prioritise glass, aluminum, and recyclable materials wherever possible.

Local When Possible: We stock multiple Australian-made products to reduce carbon footprint and support local POC businesses. When products come from overseas, it's because they're worth the journey.

Where We're Still Growing

We won't pretend we're perfect. Here's what we're working on:

Packaging: Not all our suppliers use recyclable or refillable packaging yet. We're hoping for changes here and will update you as we progress.

Carbon Footprint: Sourcing globally means shipping emissions. We're considering carbon offset programs.

Accessibility vs. Sustainability: Sometimes the most sustainable option (like $80 silk bonnets) isn't accessible to our community. We choose function and affordability, but we're transparent when products contain synthetic materials.

Supply Chain Visibility: We're gathering more information about ingredient sourcing, where shea butter is harvested, whether oils are fair trade, and how workers are treated throughout the supply chain.

What You Can Do

Care for your products sustainably:

  • Wash synthetic items (like satin bonnets) in a wash bag to reduce microplastic shedding

  • Recycle packaging where possible

  • Use products fully before replacing

  • Share and reuse when items no longer serve you

Give us feedback:

  • Tell us which sustainable products you want to see

  • Share brands you love that align with our values

  • Let us know when we can do better

Our Promise

We promise to:

✓ Always be transparent about where products come from and what they're made of

✓ Prioritise natural, sustainable products

✓ Exclusively BIPOC-owned brands and ethical production always

✓ Listen to our community and evolve

✓ Never greenwash or make false claims

✓ Keep pushing for better, while acknowledging the journey

Sustainability isn't about perfection. It's about making the best choices we can, being honest about our limitations, and constantly improving.

Thank you for supporting ROOTS and holding us accountable as we grow.

With gratitude,
Lakeri
Founder, ROOTS Culture Collective

Questions? Concerns? Ideas? Email us at Hello@rootsculture.co – we're always listening.